The NSW Nurses Association is still waiting for the North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) to release an explanatory statement concerning its introduction of 'surge beds' in local public hospitals.
Surge beds are by definition additional inpatient beds which become available during epidemics, natural disasters and bioterrorism events.
Though in the case of NSW Health and NCAHS it appears that the label 'surge beds' is being used to withdraw existing hospital beds from daily use and reduce staffing levels.
After the fact consultations with the 14 hospitals involved do not appear to have engendered confidence within medical circles.
Which leaves many North Coast residents concerned about the present focus of regional health planning, if word games and bean counting are considered more important than people.
Thursday 3 April 2008
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